Pages

Saturday, February 25, 2017

Online Complain or Call UGC Hotline for Campus Rag / Ragging

Sri Lanka University Grants
Commission (UGC) set up an Online complaints mechanism to quickly lodge
complaints about University Ragging, Harassment, intimidation, and bullying. UGC
said that every complaint will be investigated and that victims will be offered
support and aid. Any member of the university, students, academics, non-academic
staff, or administrative staff, can lodge a complaint by going to the UGC
website or calling the UGC.

The UGC said all complaints once
lodged would be investigated and cannot be withdrawn, while those who made
false or malicious complaints would be subjected to disciplinary procedures.

UGC said in a statement said that any member of the University Community
could lodge a complaint regarding incidents of ragging, harassment,
intimidation and bullying by accessing the link from the UGC web site
http://www.ugc.ac.lk/rag/ Rag securely and confidentially.

It said all complaints
lodged would be investigated and victims of such incidents would be offered
support and redress. It said affected students could also reach out to the UGC
hotline 0112-123700, 0112-123456 by following the instructions provided through
the Interactive Voice Response System. When the complaint was lodged, the
relevant authorities such as the Vice-Chancellor and Student Counselors would
be alerted by the UGC. “The UGC has given instructions to the authorities in
Universities to investigate and support the victims/complainant from the moment
a complaint is lodged. The Universities will provide support in the form of
counseling, ensuring safety and protection, and support with continuing
education or work,” the statement added. UGC hotline 0112-123700, 0112-123456It said the UGC had also instructed
the Universities to provide protection and support to the students who made
complaints to ensure that he/she was not further victimised as a result of the
complaint. “All members of the University community, including students,
academics, non-academic and administration staff could lodge an online
complaint in cases of ragging, sexual harassment, sexual or gender based
violence, threats and intimidation, bullying and harassment,” the statement
said.Watch Ragging / Campus Rag Videos Here Click >>>>

Enabling a
Secure University Environment

Many of us
have experienced some sort of threat or harassment on campus at some point
in our lives. These threats and harassment can take many different forms:
ragging, sexual harassment, bullying, sexual or gender based violence,
threats and intimidation. These incidents have often turned what should be
a fulfilling, fun and memorable university career into something
frightening and distressing.

Since many
of us (students, academics, non-academic staff and administrative staff)
spend a lot of our time on campus, we all have a responsibility to ensure
that it is safe and secure for all of us. At the same time, it is important
to have in place various initiatives to help us feel safe and secure.

The Online
Complaints Mechanism, is a new initiative of the University Grants
Commission that has been set up as a means for any member of the university
community to lodge a complaint regarding incidents of ragging, harassment,
intimidation and bullying. All complaints that are lodged will be
investigated and victims of such incidents will be offered support and
redress.

How does
the Online Complaints Mechanism work?

☛

Any
member of the university can lodge a complaint if they are victims of
violence of any form. This includes ragging, bullying and sexual and
gender based violence.

☛

Once the
complaint is lodged, the relevant authorities (such as the
Vice-Chancellor, Student Counsellors etc) are notified and will
immediately initiate an investigation regarding the complaint.

☛

A
response will be provided to the person who made the comp

aint
within a specified time period.

☛

Protection
and support will also be provided by the university to the person who has
made the complaint to ensure that he/she is not further victimised as a
result of the complaint.

How is the
Online Complaint Mechanism different from existing grievance procedures in
the university?

☛

It is
much easier to make a complaint – you simply have to go online and
register your complaint. You can do this securely and in
privacy.

☛

Your
complaint will be

racked
and monitored by the UGC to make sure that you get an appropriate
response.

☛

There is
a time-frame within which all complaints will be investigated: this means
that when people make complaints, the process does not get dragged out
for a long ti

e,
causing immense trouble to both person who made the complaint as well as
the alleged perpetrator/perpetrators.

☛

The
person who makes the complaint will start receiving support from the
moment the complaint is lodged. Support may take the form of c

unselling,
ensuring safety and protection, and support with continuing education or
work.

What type
of grievances can be lodged online?

If you
are being subjected to any of the following, you can use the online
mechanism:

☛

All forms
of ragg

ng

☛

Sexual
harassment

☛

Sexual or
gender based violence

☛

Threats
and Intimidation

☛

Bullying

☛

Harassment

Who can
make complaints?

All members
of the university community: students, academics, non-academics and
administration staf

Who is
responsible for responding to the complaint?

Depending
on the nature of the complaint, this might vary, but in general the
following will be responsible for ensuring that the complaints are
investigated:

☛

Vice-Chancellor

☛

Senior
Stu

ent
Counsellors

☛

Deans

☛

Heads of
Department

☛

Staff of
the Gender Equity Centre

What if
false complaints are lodged?

All
complaints once lodged will be investigated and cannot be withdrawn.
However, if complaints are found to be fal

e or
malicious, those who made such complaints will be subjected to disciplinary
procedures.